Elokobi desires Cameroon call-up

By Barney Cullum

George Elokobi wants to play for the Indomitable Lions

Wolves defender George Elokobi has said that he wants to play international football for his native Cameroon.

The 23-year-old left-back was born to Cameroonian parents but grew up in London where he started his career.

Elokobi is hoping his performances in the Premier League could earn him a call up to the Indomitable Lions squad.

"After growing up watching all the great players wear the Cameroon shirt I would gladly play for Cameroon for free," said Elokobi.

Elokobi's main target is international recognition and he received a message of support from Indomitable Lions star Modeste M'bami during pre-season training.

"Modeste came to Wolves for a brief trial over the summer and he told me I could have a bright future with the national team," Elokobi said.

"He told me I had talent, power, a great left foot and that he felt Cameroon needed more young players like me in the team."

After growing up watching all the great players wear the Cameroon shirt I would gladly play for Cameroon for free

George Elokobi

New Cameroon manager Paul Le Guen has already signalled his intentions to overhaul the side after dropping veteran Rigobert Song in his first match in charge against Austria earlier this month.

Elokobi believes Le Guen is right to concentrate on Cameroon's emerging prospects as the African giants attempt to close the ground on World Cup qualifying Group A leaders Gabon.

"I have the utmost respect for the likes of Rigobert Song but if you look around at the likes of Andre Bikey, Alex Song, Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Sebastien Bassong, Cameroon have lots of great young players coming through," he added.

Elokobi is hoping his remarkable rise from amateur football to the English Premier League in the space of five years would help him play for his home country.

The defender was playing for non-league side Dulwich Hamlet, unpaid, as recently as 2004.

"I was 18-years-old, at college and just playing football in the park when Dulwich spotted me," said Elokobi, who had moved to London from Mamfe in south west Cameroon the previous year.

"I was there for a season and then Colchester United saw me play and offered me my first professional contract."

Elokobi represented Colchester at Championship and League One level for four years before a falling-out with the management there turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

He handed in a transfer request and was signed up by Mick McCarthy, who quickly made Elokobi his first-choice left-back at Molineux.

It turned out to be the biggest break of Elokobi's fledgling career after Wolves were promoted to the Premier League within 18 months of his joining.

"When I started at 18 I never thought I would get this far," Elokobi told BBC Sport.

"You can get away with murder in non league but as I have moved up through the divisions each manager has improved me and gradually cut out the weaknesses in my game.

"If you keep believing in yourself you can go a long way.

"It's a dream come true to be playing in the Premier League but it's real and it just shows you what can happen if you work hard."